Horizontal support member for tube and clamp scaffold assembly

Abstract

A horizontal support member is provided for use with tube and clamp scaffold systems. The support member includes a bar, preferably a length of scaffold tubing, having a tube half-clamp welded to each end. Attaching each tube half-clamp of the support member to a vertical scaffold tube will result in the support member becoming horizontal. Attaching a plurality of support members of the same fixed length between adjacent vertical scaffold tubes as transoms and ledgers maintains a uniform distance between the vertical scaffold tubes and provides a scaffold system that is quick to assemble. A tube half-clamp including a base with scaffold brace fastening means projecting perpendicular from the base is also provided. Attaching tube half-clamps with brace fastening means to a tube and clamp scaffold assembly permits the use of conventional scaffold braces, such as lengths of metal tubes with flattened ends or angle iron and having apertures at each end, as diagonal braces to stabilize the assembled scaffold.

1 . A support member for a tube and clamp scaffold system, comprising: 
 a rigid bar having first and second ends and defining a longitudinal axis; and    a half-clamp at each of the first and second ends, each half-clamp oriented to clamp a tube whose axis is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rigid bar, the half-clamps oriented in substantially the same direction whereupon attaching each half-clamp of the rigid bar to a substantially vertical scaffold tube causes the support member to be substantially horizontal.    
   
   
       2 . The support member as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the bar is a metal scaffold tube.  
   
   
       3 . The support member as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the half-clamps are welded to the bar.  
   
   
       4 . The support member as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each half-clamp is a releasable clamshell clamp.  
   
   
       5 . A support member for a tube and clamp scaffold system, comprising: 
 a metal scaffold tube having first and second ends and defining a longitudinal axis; and    a releasable clamshell half-clamp welded to each of the first and second ends, each half-clamp oriented to clamp a tube whose axis is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, the half-clamps orientated in substantially the same direction whereupon attaching each half-clamp to a substantially vertical scaffold tube causes the support member to be substantially horizontal.    
   
   
       6 . A scaffold system, comprising: 
 a plurality of substantially vertical scaffold tubes positioned in a spaced apart configuration; and    a plurality of substantially horizontal support members releasably connected to each pair of adjacent vertical scaffold tubes, each support member comprising a rigid bar having first and second ends and defining a longitudinal axis, the bar having a half-clamp at each of the first and second ends, each half-clamp oriented to clamp a tube whose axis is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, the half-clamps oriented in substantially the same direction whereupon attaching each half-clamp of a support member to a substantially vertical scaffold tube causes the support member to be substantially horizontal.    
   
   
       7 . The scaffold system as forth in  claim 6  wherein the bar is a metal scaffold tube.  
   
   
       8 . The scaffold system as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the half-clamps are welded to the bar.  
   
   
       9 . The scaffold system as set forth in  claim 6  wherein each half-clamp is a releasable clamshell clamp.  
   
   
       10 . The scaffold system as set forth in  claim 6  further comprising: 
 (a) at least one pair of brace clamps, each brace clamp consisting of a half-clamp having a base and fastening means for releasably attaching a scaffold brace to the brace clamp, the fastening means projecting substantially perpendicular from the base whereupon the brace clamp being fastened to a scaffold tube having a longitudinal axis, the fastening means is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;    (b) each of said pair of brace clamps attached to one of a pair of adjacent vertical tubes; and    (c) the scaffold brace having first and second ends, each end having an aperture for receiving the fastening means, each end of the brace releasably attached to one of said pair of brace clamps.    
   
   
       11 . A brace clamp for a scaffold brace having first and second ends, each end having an aperture for receiving a fastener, comprising: 
 a half-clamp having a base; and    a fastener for releasably attaching the scaffold brace to the brace clamp, the fastener projecting substantially perpendicular from the base of the brace clamp whereupon the brace clamp being attached to a scaffold tube having a longitudinal axis, the fastener extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis for attaching to an aperture of the scaffold brace.    
   
   
       12 . The brace clamp as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the fastener is a bolt and a nut whereby the bolt extends through an aperture of the scaffold brace and the nut is then threaded onto the bolt to secure the scaffold brace to the brace clamp.  
   
   
       13 . The brace clamp as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the fastener is a quick release scaffold brace attachment mechanism that extends through an aperture of the scaffold brace to secure the scaffold brace to the brace clamp.